Sectional ladder



(No Model.)

J. T. O'BRIBN.

SECTIONAL LADDER.

NVENTOR Patented Ju L WITNESS ES:

.UNITED STATES JOHN T. OBRIEN, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

SECTIONAL LADDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 300,631, dated June `17, 1884.

` Application filed May 12, 1884. (No model.)

To all whoml t may concern..-

Be it known that I, JOHN T. OBRIIJN, of the city and county of Philadelphia, in the State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sectional Ladders, whereof the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings. f

` In these, Figure l is a front view, partly in elevation and partly in longitudinal section, of a ladder embodying my invention, showing two of the lengths Aor sectional parts coupled together. Fig. 2 is a side elevation ofthe same. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of a scaffolding formed by the use of two pairs of the sectional ladders arranged as supports. Fig. 4 is aside view, on an enlarged scale, of the upper ends of the said pair when arranged as such supports; and Fig. 5 is a side view of one ofthe braces by which thelengths are united.

The object of my invention is to provide a ready means of uniting the pieces of a sectional ladder, so as to permit the extension of such ladder to any desired length, and to enable the said pieces to be used in pairs standing alone like an ordinary step-ladder, the uniting and detaehing of the parts being effected in a rapid manner andwithout the use of cumbersome splicing devices such as have heretofore been generally employed.

In the accompanying drawings each section of theladder is shown as made up of side pieces or uprights, A A, and cross-pieces or rungs B B, which are constructed in the ordinary manner, except in the particulars hereinafter mentioned. The upper end of each upright A is provided witlra metal tip, C, formed,'as shown, with a horizontal shoulder, a, and a projecting tongue, c, through which tongue a transverse hole, d, is made. The lower end of each upright is also constructedv with a metal cap, D, having a central recess or socket, g,(shownin dotted lines,) conforming in shape and size to the tongue c. A transverse hole, f, is formed through the cap D at such a point that when the tongue c ofthe next upright A in the series is placed home in the socket g, the holes f will register evenly with the hole d of the tongue. At some distance from each end of the upright A, I form transverse holes e, which should be hushed or faced with metal, as indicated. I prefer to use malleable iron for constructing overlapping the joints between the sectionsv l of the ladder, and the bolts passing through and locking the tongue cinto the sockets (1, the sections are rmly secured together to .form a continuous ladder.

It will be seen that the uniting and disconnection of the sectional parts can thus be accomplished with great lease and rapidity.

In order to enable the sections to be used as an ordinary step-ladder or as supports for a scaffolding, I provide nearthe upper end of one upright A a stout latch, lc, and at a similar distance from the end of an uprightof another section a socket, m, adapted toy receive' and hold the latch, as shown in Fig. 4. The stay-bars E being arranged diagonally, as indicated in Fig. 3, and secured by the bolts I, the pair of sections will vbe locked in an inclined position, so as to be self-supporting, and if it is desired to form a scaffold two pairs are used, with the scaffold -board G mounted between them. l

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

In a sectional ladder, the combination,with the uprights A A, of the tips C C, arranged thereon at one end of each section, and having tongues c, the caps D D, arranged at the other end of each section, and provided with sockets g, adapted to receive said tongues,the transverse holes d f, formed in said tongues and caps, respectively, and holes c e, formed A in the uprights A A, and the stay-bars E, having bolts which pass through said holes, the whole arranged and operating substantiallyin the manner set forth.

JOHN T. ofnninn.l Witnesses:

l CHARM-:s F. ZIEGLER,

J. .WAI/run Donemss.

IOO 

